🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Route type: Local home-daily intermodal
- Freight: Ocean containers (import/export)
- Schedule: 10–12 hour shifts, Monday–Friday
- Average daily miles: 175–250 miles
📋 Job Description
- Retrieve loaded containers from Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal and deliver to Northern NJ warehouses.
- Complete 4–6 container turns daily while managing chassis inspections and securement.
- Coordinate with terminal coordinators for appointments and execute drop-and-hook operations.
- Return empty containers to designated depots or rail ramps after customer delivery.
- Verify documentation and complete gate transactions during high-volume port activity.
- Communicate delays from congestion on NJ Turnpike, I-95, and I-78 corridors.
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
6+ months CDL-A experience required
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Container securement, chassis coupling/uncoupling, and yard maneuvering
Endorsements
TWIC Card required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Dedicated day cab assignment with daily dispatch coordination
- Fleet average age: 2023–2025 models
- Features: Samsara telematics, collision mitigation, lane departure systems
- Transmission type: Automatic
- Maintenance program: Scheduled preventive maintenance with rapid response support
🏠 Home Time
- Dispatch releases drivers after final container return and post-trip processing each evening.
- Return timing follows marine terminal and warehouse cycle completion on the NJ Turnpike corridor.
- Weekend work remains voluntary except during major import surges.
- Late appointments are managed through real-time coordination to protect daily home return.
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Port Newark–Elizabeth Terminal → Elizabeth/Kearny warehouses → NJ Turnpike
- Marine terminal chassis pickup → Secaucus distribution centers → I-95 / local routes
- Port empty return → Linden/Edison customer facilities → I-78 corridor
- Rail ramp repositioning → Piscataway industrial parks → NJ Turnpike Exit 10 area
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What experience is needed for this intermodal position?
Minimum 6 months CDL-A experience is required along with a valid TWIC Card. Port and container chassis familiarity is highly valued but not mandatory.
How many turns or stops do drivers complete per day?
Drivers typically complete 4–6 container turns daily depending on terminal wait times and delivery distances in the Elizabeth/Newark market.
What are the typical start times and shift length?
Shifts usually begin between 4:00 AM and 7:00 AM with 10–12 hour days. Most drivers finish in time for daily home return.
Is this no-touch freight?
Yes. Terminal personnel handle loading while warehouse teams manage unloading. Drivers focus on securement, inspections, and transportation.
Are trucks assigned or slip-seated?
Drivers are assigned late-model Freightliner Cascadia day cabs with consistent equipment to support daily intermodal operations.
How is overtime and detention handled?
Overtime is paid after 40 hours. Detention and port congestion time are compensated according to company policy during peak periods.
💼 Career Opportunities
This Local CDL-A Intermodal Container Driver role in Elizabeth, New Jersey serves as a strong foundation for a stable career in port and regional logistics. Drivers gain deep expertise in marine terminal procedures, container handling, and navigating the dense freight network surrounding one of the East Coast’s busiest ports. Many advance from daily container turns into dedicated account roles or yard supervision positions within the same operation.
Internal progression paths include Dispatcher, Yard Supervisor, Fleet Trainer, and Transportation Coordinator. The consistent freight volume from import/export cycles provides reliable hours and earning potential without long-haul demands. Safety-focused drivers frequently qualify for annual bonuses and trainer opportunities. The company maintains a modern fleet with strong maintenance support, allowing drivers to develop technical knowledge of advanced safety systems and telematics.
Elizabeth’s strategic location offers continuous freight activity year-round, supporting long-term employment stability in the logistics sector. Drivers build valuable relationships with terminal operators, warehouse teams, and dispatch, creating clear pathways for advancement within the regional intermodal network.
🔗 Local CDL-A Intermodal Container Driver – Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth, New Jersey remains a critical hub for intermodal freight movement due to its direct connection to the Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal complex. Local CDL-A drivers in this market haul ocean containers between marine terminals, rail ramps, customer warehouses, and distribution centers throughout Northern New Jersey. This position offers $29–$34 per hour with weekly earnings of $1,450–$1,850 based on variable hours tied to port activity and delivery volume.
Drivers operate modern 2023–2025 Freightliner Cascadia day cabs equipped with automatic transmissions and advanced safety technology. The role features home daily returns with typical shifts of 10–12 hours and 175–250 miles per day. Freight consists primarily of imported retail merchandise, consumer goods, and industrial products arriving from Asia and Europe.
The operation emphasizes appointment-based scheduling to navigate congestion on the New Jersey Turnpike, I-95, and surrounding corridors. With a TWIC Card requirement and focus on container securement and chassis management, this role suits experienced drivers seeking stable local work without overnight travel. Strong safety records and reliable performance open doors to additional bonuses and internal advancement.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for Local CDL-A Intermodal Container Driver in Elizabeth, NJ.